Fire-escape



PIRE ESCAPE. I I v1\Io.260,4=22.y `Panented .July 4, 1882.

Ziyi .Figa i295.

N, PETERS. Plmm-Lilbqgmplmr. wqminglm D, C.

UNITED STATESv PATENT OEEICE.

ANDREAS RHMER, OF FOSTERS CROSSING, OHIO.

FIRE-ESCAPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 260,422, dated July 4, 1882. Application filed March 278, 18 52. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ANDREAS RHMER, of Fosters Crossing, Warren county, Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Fire-Escapes, of which the following is a specication. Y l

My invention is an improvement on -those apparatuses which are adapted for permanent attachment to a house or building to facilitate the escape of the inmates in the event of a eoniagration.

Figure I is a front elevation, representing a portion of a house to which my device has been appended. Figs. 2, 3, and 4 are respectively a rear, a top, and an end view of the windlass on a larger scale. Figs. 5 and 6 are vertical sections of the windlass, Fig. 5 showing the adjustable brake in its eective and Fig. 6 in its non-effectivecondition. In Fig. 5 the cage is show-n in sideA elevation, and in Fig. 6 in vertical section. Fig. 7 is a top view'ot` the cage.

A may represent a dwelling-house or other edifice, attached permanently to the upper part of which is my whin or windlass B, in

which are journaled horizontally one or more drums, O, forV wire cables D, which, being carried over pulleys E, have attached to their free extremities cages F, of which each cage is of capacity sufficient to hold one or more persons.

In order to regulate and place under control the rapidity of descent of the loaded cages, I provide an adjustable brake or governor, consisting ot' two bars, G H,'hinged, as at I, to the door of the windlass, and havingl rubbers J, which can be made to press with any desired force upon the wndlass-shaft by rotation in the proper direction of a right-and-left screw, K, having an operating handle or winch, L.

The bars Gr' H are preferably composed of some elastic woodsuch as ash or hickoryso as, after being once brought in contact with the drum-shaft, to be capable of being applied with any desired stress or pressure by the continued rotation of the screw K.

In order to aid the operator in imparting the precise pressure required, I provide upon the wall of the windlass a graduated circle, M,

which indicates or informs the user that a another lever, O, with a wire cable, P, which,

being conducted over the pulley E, han gs down in front of the house in a convenient position to be reached and operated by an occupant of one or more of the descendingV cages,.and who thus has it in his power to retard or even arrest the descent ot' the cage at any instant or height, to take or put oli' passengers and for other purposes.

A wheel, Q, journaled on the rear side of the cage, near its bottom, facilitates its passage over sills, lintels, and other projections, and prevents sudden jars and danger of catching and overturning.

Each drum may have provision It for application of a winch, S, with which to wind it up for repeated use, or when for lthe time being no longer wanted, so as to be always in a condition of readiness for the next emergency.

I claim herein as new and of my invention- 1. The combination ot one or more drums, C, wire cable D, a cage, F, spring-'bars G H, and right-and-left screw K, as set forth.

2. In combination with the drum C, cable lD, cage F, and brake G H I K, and the operating-handle L, the index or graduated circle M, as and forthe purpose explained.

3. In combination with the drum O, cable D, and cage F, and the brake G H I K L, as described, the supplementary or additional brake N O P, accessible to inmates of the cage, substantially as set forth.

In testimony of which invention I hereunto set my hand. c

' ANDREAS ROHMER.

Attest: f

GEO. H. KNIGHT, SAML. S. CARPENTER. 

